📰 News Roundup
👀 Frictional Games next project: The horror masters at Frictional Games have begun teasing their next project, seemingly a new IP to be published by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 & REMATCH publisher Kepler Interactive (watch: the teaser)
🥶 Icy Tower: Gothenburg-based developers Johan Peitz & Anders Svensson has announced a new Icy Tower game (simply titled ‘Icy Tower’) to release in 2026, 25 years after the original cult-classic (via: x.com/johanpeitz)
🌱 Sustainable Games Standard: Non-profit organization Sustainable Games Alliance has announced and launched the Sustainable Games Standard, the first global emissions reporting framework created specifically for the games industry & used by members such as Arctic Game & Starbreeze (via: linkedin.com)
🤕 Avalanche Studios Group Layoffs: Following Xbox’ cancellation of ‘Contraband’ Avalanche Studios Group has announced the closure of their Liverpool studio, with reducation in workforce also affecting their Malmö & Stockholm studios (read more: avalanchestudios.com)
🤕 Starbreeze cancels ‘Project Baxter’ and suffers layoffs: Starbreeze has announced a strategic shift to focus on the PAYDAY franchise, resulting in the cancellation of ‘Project Baxter’, a co-op game reportedly set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons. While some staff will be moved from Project Baxter to PAYDAY and other projects, this shift will result in workforce reduction of 44 full time employees (read more: starbreeze.com)
🤕 The Outsiders/Funcom Stockholm shutting down: Following the release of Dune: Awakening in June, Funcom has announced layoffs, impacting everyone at Funcom Stockholm and their studio ‘The Outsiders’ known for their debut title ‘Metal: Hellsinger’ (read more: gamesindustry.biz)
🥳 Stockholm has a new studio in town, Hitbox Games: Let’s be real, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for the swedish (and especially Stockholm) games industry, but we’re ending the News Roundup on a good note! Former Fatshark, Avalanche and Embark developers have announced Hitbox Games - a currently 4-person team developing their debut title, a “cosmic horror narrative adventure, set beneath the Arctic Ocean” (visit: hitboxgames.se)
🎮 Upcoming Releases ┃ October 2025
🆕 = New Game Release ┃ 🔔 = Update/DLC/Season ┃ 🎮 = Port
🆕 Battlefield 6 (co-developed in Sweden)
October 10th 〡PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox
The ultimate all-out warfare experience. In a war of tanks, fighter jets, and massive combat arsenals, your squad is the deadliest weapon.
Developed by: Battlefield Studios (Global)
🆕 Fellowship (Early Access)
October 16th 〡PC
FELLOWSHIP is a multiplayer online dungeon adventure set in an exciting fantasy setting, with endlessly scaling dungeon runs.
Developed by: Chief Rebel (Stockholm)
🔔 Overthrown 1.0 (co-developed in Sweden)
October 16th 〡PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox
Lift and throw anything as you build and manage your kingdom in this chaotic city builder for 1-6 players. Harness the power of your soul-stealing crown to defend your citizens from bandits and mutants, farm the land, and gather resources. Keep citizens happy or see them desert you!
Developed by: Brimstone (Remote)
🆕 GODBREAKERS
October 23rd 〡PC, PlayStation 5
Take control of every fight with ferociously fluid combat as you chain aggressive combos, cancel moves mid-swing, and steal enemy powers to turn them against their masters. Play in up to 4-player co-op to craft the perfect team setup and topple brutal bosses across different worlds.
Developed by: To The Sky (Gothenburg)
🔔 Heart Electric (Playtest)
October 24-26th 〡PC
Stay one step ahead of the shifting balance of power in this 4-team Hero FPS. Heart Electric challenges you to outwit, outplay, and ultimately eliminate three other teams. Tactics, team play, and unpredictability are as important as sharp aim in this innovative hero shooter.
Developed by: Modoyo (Stockholm)
🆕 Arc Raiders
October 30th 〡PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox
ARC Raiders is an upcoming multiplayer, extraction adventure, set in a lethal future earth, ravaged by a mysterious mechanized threat known as ARC.
Developed by: Embark Studios (Stockholm)
🏆 Golden Joysticks Awards Nominations
The Golden Joysticks Awards 2025 is fast approaching, with voting now open until October 31st, with Swedish studios/titles racking up a total of 16 nominations! 🇸🇪
PC Game of the Year
Hollow Knight: Silksong
The Alters
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Peak (co-developed by Landfall, Stockholm & Aggro Crab, Seattle)
Abiotic Factor
Dune: Awakening
Console Game of the Year
Donkey Kong Bananza
Monster Hunter Wilds
Ghost of Yōtei
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Mario Kart World
Best Multiplayer Game
Battlefield 6 (co-developed by DICE, Stockholm)
Peak (co-developed by Landfall, Stockholm & Aggro Crab, Seattle)
Elden Ring Nightreign
Split Fiction (Hazelight, Stockholm)
Mario Kart World
Rematch
Best Indie Game
Blue Prince (Published by Raw Fury)
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Wanderstop
Skin Deep
Despelote
Herdling
Abiotic Factor
Baby Steps
Caves of Qud
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Best Indie Game (Self-Published)
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hades II
Sword of the Sea
Peak (co-developed by Landfall, Stockholm & Aggro Crab, Seattle)
Keep Driving (YCJY Games, Gothenburg)
Spilled!
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
Deltarune
Promise Mascot Agency
Consume Me
Best Remake or Remaster
Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
The Talos Principle: Reawakened
Gears of War: Reloaded
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Studio of the Year
Team Cherry
Sandfall Interactive
Aggro Crab and Landfall (Stockholm)
Bloober Team
Sloclap
Rebellion
Best Game Expansion
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants (MachineGames, Uppsala)
Lies of P: Overture
No Man's Sky: Voyagers
Atomfall Story Expansion Pack: The Red Strain
Assassin's Creed Shadows - Claws of Awaji
Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest
Best Storytelling
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Silent Hill f
Blue Prince (Published by Raw Fury)
Mafia: The Old Country
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy
Best Visual Design
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The Midnight Walk (MoonHood, Gothenburg)
Ghost of Yōtei
Sword of the Sea
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Best Audio Design
Ghost of Yōtei
Battlefield 6 (co-developed by DICE, Stockholm)
Donkey Kong Bananza
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Two Point Museum
Cronos: The New Dawn
Best Soundtrack
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
South of Midnight
Silent Hill f
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (River End Games, Gothenburg)
Deltarune
Sword of the Sea
Best Early Access Game
Grounded 2
Schedule I
9 Kings
R.E.P.O. (semiwork, Uppsala)
Skate.
White Knuckle
Still Playing Award (PC and Console)
Minecraft (Mojang, Stockholm)
Dead by Daylight
Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios, Stockholm)
Naraka: Bladepoint
Satisfactory (Coffee Stain Studios, Skövde)
Call of Duty: Warzone
Marvel Rivals
Fortnite
Apex Legends
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X
GTA Online
Warframe
Still Playing Award (Mobile)
Call of Duty: Mobile
Pokémon GO
Subway Surfers
Clash Royale
Honkai: Star Rail
Genshin Impact
Zenless Zone Zero
Roblox
Free Fire
PUBG Mobile
Best Gaming Hardware
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
WD_BLACK SN8100 NVMe SSD
Elgato Facecam 4K
Razer Blade 16
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Game Adaptation
Devil May Cry (Netflix)
Arcane Season 2 (Netflix)
The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO)
A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Secret Level (Prime Video)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount Pictures)
Best Game Trailer
Battlefield 6 (Official Launch Live Action Trailer)
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (Announcement Trailer)
Grand Theft Auto VI (Trailer 2)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Official CGI Trailer – Live a Life Medieval)
Rhythm Doctor (Official Release Date Trailer)
Romeo is a Dead Man (Announcement Trailer)
Most Wanted Game
Grand Theft Auto VI
Resident Evil Requiem
The Witcher 4
Black Myth: Zhong Kui
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Night
007 First Light
EXODUS
Subnautica 2
Light No Fire
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
SAROS
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Crimson Desert
KINGDOM HEARTS IV
Marvel's Wolverine
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
OD - KNOCK
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy